Professional gamer and YouTuber Tyler Blevins, who is better known as Ninja recently opened up about being diagnosed with melanoma via X. The 32–year-old wrote on X:” I am still in shock, but I still want to keep you all updated.
YouTuber Ninja Opens Up About His Cancer Diagnosis At 32
I had an appointment with my dermatologist a few weeks ago for an annual skin/mole check that Jess proactively scheduled for me,” he further wrote. The doctors diagnosed the cancer-indicating mole on his skin during the appointment.
“There was a mole on the bottom of my foot,” the gamer wrote adding that the doctors removed it, but it turned out to be a melanoma. According to Ninja, the doctors are “optimistic that we caught the cancer in the early stage.”
As per the Mayo Clinic, Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer that affects melanocytes, the cells that make pigments called melanin, which provides color to the skin. Normally, melanoma is found on sun-exposed areas of the skin, but sometimes it also appears in the eyes, or inside the body.
“I had another dark spot next to the previous one and the doctors biopsied that and removed a larger area around it to make sure that they would be able to see the non-melanoma edges under the microscope. “
He then requested his fans and followers to take regular checkups to make sure that they were not affected by any such conditions. “I am grateful to have been able to find this early. But please consider this a PSA to get regular checkups.
Doctors warn that it is important to get skin checks with a dermatologist once in a while to prevent skin cancers. Often, the development of a mole including a slight change in its color could indicate the presence of a cancer. The most common warning signs of skin cancers include itching, bleeding, and changes in size and color.
Following the announcement, Ninja’s friends and online creators showed up in support of the gamer with one saying, “You are so right about early detection. I am glad that you decided to do a check-up. Otherwise, it would have ended up worse,” while another one chimed in,” I often do not care about the moles or freckles on my skin. This is such an eye-opener. Thank you Ninja for sharing this with us and take good care of yourself.”
“This is the one that killed one of my close relatives. You are lucky that you diagnosed it way too early. Take rest and come back stronger my dear,” a third user wrote.
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Meanwhile, Twitch streamer, Madeywlook opened up about her experience with melanoma. “I was diagnosed with melanoma a few years ago on my lower back. Though I did not know it was melanoma, I decided to get it removed because it was in the center of my body. And it was driving me crazy,” she said, adding “It was so scary to hear about melanoma, especially because I got it at the place where the sun does not reach.
“Lots of love for Jess for being proactive. Hoping for the best,” wrote gamer SypherPK, meanwhile, sports commentator Jake Lucky noted, “Glad you diagnosed it early man. Hoping for the best.”